Over the past four decades, partners working through the Long Island Sound Partnership have made major strides to restore the Sound. Since the original 1994 Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan (CCMP) was adopted, federal, state, and local partners have reduced nitrogen pollution by 40 million pounds per year, restored nearly 2,400 acres of habitat, reopened 448 miles of rivers to migratory fish, and engaged hundreds of thousands of people through education and volunteer projects.
In 2015, the CCMP was revised to set more ambitious goals for restoring the Sound’s health and resilience through 2035. The plan was designed to be implemented in five-year increments, with Implementation Actions developed for each period. Updates were published in 2020 and again in 2025 to reflect progress, new challenges, and evolving science.
The 2025 CCMP continues this work with refreshed actions and targets, supporting the long-term vision of a healthy, resilient Long Island Sound for all communities.
To fulfill the vision of a restored and protected Long Island Sound, the Long Island Sound Partnership developed the 2025 CCMP with specific, measurable objectives and actions to guide progress through 2030. These are organized under four interconnected goals:
Improve water quality by reducing contaminant and nutrient loads from the land and the waters impacting Long Island Sound. Learn more about waters and watersheds »
Restore and protect the Sound’s ecological balance in a healthy, productive, and resilient state to benefit both people and the natural environment. Learn more about habitats and wildlife »
Support vibrant, informed, and engaged communities that use, appreciate, and help protect Long Island Sound. Learn more about communities »
Inspire and empower the public to appreciate, value, and protect Long Island Sound and the waters that flow into the Sound. Learn more about engaged public »
The following ambitious, but achievable, ecosystem targets have been developed to drive progress toward attaining the goals of the management plan’s themes Clean Waters and Healthy Watersheds, Thriving Habitats and Abundant Wildlife, and Sustainable and Resilient Communities.
To fulfill the vision of a restored and protected Long Island Sound the partner agencies of the Long Island Sound Partnership in 2025 revised its Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan. Read the 2025 Management Plan.
An outline of the Plan’s Vision, Mission, Goals, and Objectives is also available in “Our Plan at a Glance.”
The spring 2024 issue of Sound Update is coming soon. To see last year’s review, go to the Media Center where you can find highlights of various clean water, habitat restoration, education, and science projects from Connecticut and New York.
The EPA National Estuary Program Work Plan highlights current and planned Management Plan activities. It is available as a PDF Download in the Media Center.
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